LANSING - Attorney General Bill Schuette is taking action against a Michigan-based charity that raises money for priests across the country facing criminal charges and other problems.

Opus Bono has in recent weeks circulated a letter asking for donations to assist the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle, a retired priest accused of embezzling more than $5 million dollars from St. Martha, a Roman Catholic parish in Okemos.

The nonprofit, based in Lapeer County, violated the state's Nonprofit Corporation Act and Charitable Solicitations Act, Schuette said in a news release.

The organization "fabricated quotes from priests" as part of efforts that raised more than $1 million annually, and two men running the charity "were using most of the funds raised for themselves," Schuette wrote.

Among Schuette's allegations:

Opus Bono, also known as Opus Bono Sacerdotii, used "deceptive mailings" to solicit money on behalf of priests.

Opus Bono President Joe Maher and Treasurer Peter Ferrara used the organization's assets "for their own benefit."

Since its founding in 2002, the organization was operated by Maher and Ferrara "without any meaningful oversight" from its board of directors.

Ferrara or Maher withdrew money from the charity's accounts "on a near daily basis" and charged the charity for food, auto and health expenses.

Maher and Ferrara were compensated $1.7 million from 2014-2017.

"Maher and Ferrara took what they wanted, when they wanted it," Schuette wrote.

"When a board fails to do its job — fails to supervise the charity's activities, fails to control its charitable assets, and fails to review its solicitations — it creates an opportunity for unethical or illegal conduct," Schuette said in the news release.

In documents released by Schuette's office, the charity indicated that Maher and Ferrara "bore the brunt" of funding the organization in its early years, and that there was an agreement in place that would allow them to "recover unpaid salary" in the future, on top of their official $120,000 annual salaries.

Investigators, however, found no evidence of such an agreement, according to the documents.

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The front exterior of the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

The front exterior of the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's approximately 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. The photos of Wehrle's home were obtained by the LSJ through a Freedom of Information Act request. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

An engraving at the Williamston home of the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

The rear exterior of the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Courtesy image

The rear exterior of the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured from the second floor of a barn on the property in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A large barn located beside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A large barn located beside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A large barn located beside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A large second-floor deck at the rear of the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A large barn seen from the rear of the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A swimming pool and hot tub located inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

An ornate ceiling and decorate balcony inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston are pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

One of several pianos and organs located inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A mantelpiece and stained glass located above a fireplace inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston are pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

An ornate ceiling inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

One of several pianos and organs located inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

One of several pianos and organs located inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

Organ pipes and ranks located inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston are pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A bedroom and sitting area located inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston are pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

An elevator located inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A sitting area located inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

Stained glass windows located in a bathroom inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston are pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

Bookshelves lining a balcony inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A stained glass mural is located above the second floor balcony in a room inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

Several empty television boxes inside a storage closet at the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A sitting area located inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A kitchen inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A kitchen area located inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

Stained glass doors inside the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle's about 11,000-square-foot home in Williamston is pictured in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the home. Michigan State Police

A Michigan State Police car is parked at the entrance to the home of the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle in Williamston in a May 2017 photo from the Michigan State Police. Officials have alleged Wehrle used funds from his Okemos parish to pay for work and materials at the more than 11,000 square foot home. Michigan State Police

The Williamston home and gazebo of the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle are pictured in this panoramic photo taken by the Michigan State Police in May 2017. Officials allege Wehrle used church funds to pay for work and materials on his home. Michigan State Police

Schuette hopes to dissolve the charity and plans to file a civil lawsuit against the charity, according to the release. His investigation began last year after receiving complaints from a former employee.

Maher previously told the State Journal that Opus Bono has six full-time employees, two part-time employees and a nationwide network of volunteers.

Tax records indicate Opus Bono collected contributions and grants totaling more than $1.3 million during 2016. Maher and Ferrara received more than $550,000 in combined compensation that same year, the records indicate.

Wehrle is "in dire need" of help, according to a letter dated June 11, signed by Maher and circulated on Wehrle's behalf.

The letter estimates it would cost $300,000 to hire Butzel Long, a Detroit law firm, to defend Wehrle against criminal and civil charges. The same law firm is representing Opus Bono in Schuette's inquiry into the charity, records show.

Wehrle is awaiting trial on six felony counts of embezzlement of $100,000 or more. His trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 13 in Ingham County Circuit Court, although a delay seems likely after Michigan State Police on Wednesday announced the discovery of about $63,000 in cash hidden above ceiling tiles in the basement of Wehrle's lavish home.

Attorney Lawrence Nolan, who has been representing Wehrle in the criminal case, on Wednesday told the State Journal he "will be withdrawing" as Wehrle's attorney.

Contact Christopher Haxel at 517-377-1261 or chaxel@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisHaxel.